Birding the Bay Part 1

California is one of the best birding states in the country. It's state checklist tallies 664 birds! That's 20 more than the next state, Texas, and over 100 more than the third birdiest state, Arizona. Needless to say I was excited about the opportunity to bird there when my family decided to take a Spring Break trip for San Francisco. 

Western Gull

We arrived on Saturday morning, and we spent the early afternoon walking around the city and its insanely steep hills. After feasting on some Dim Sum we worked out way towards Fisherman's Wharf to take a cruise of San Francisco Bay. Western Gulls and Western Grebes were everywhere, as well as Brandt's and Double-crested Cormorants. Although not a birding cruise, we went right under the Golden Gate Bridge and got stunning views of the bay and Alcatraz. A cormorant flew by as we crossed under the bridge and I got some glass on it, noticing white along the vent. Pelagic Cormorant! That was a great first day of birding, and the good times would continue into Sunday.

Sunday was a much better day for birding. The weather was sunny, and we took a hiking trip to the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. We had a 7 mile hike planned along the coast. California has some very different shorebirds and ducks, so I was optimistic about what we may come across.

The Marin Headlands are stunning. When one thinks of the California coast, they think of this area. We got out of the car, and while everyone stretched their legs I took a gander at the bird hopping around in the scrub. It had the tail of a wren but a much longer tail. WRENTIT! Not even a minute into the trip and I got a lifer. We descended into Rodeo Lagoon, a normally extremely birdy spot, but it was surprisingly dead save for Buffleheads and Ring-necked Ducks. I was hoping for mergansers and loons, but there was no sign of them. This was not a birding tour and my birding expectations were low, so we hiked to an Elephant Seal rehab center, which was great to see, and I liked the Oregon subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco that we saw all over the trail. 

The best part of our hike was along the coast. We were on high cliffs and could hear seals calling below us. I thought I had a Harlequin Duck, but it was gone when I looked down. We did get an Allen's Hummingbird, Spotted Towhee and Song Sparrow, though.

Spotted Towhee, my sister got this picture

Our stop for lunch on Rodeo Beach got Common Loon, Osprey, and a few Anna's Hummingbirds. I didn't have my camera for most of this hike because I'm an idiot and left my charger in College Station and my battery only had an hour of use time left, but after our first California Scrub Jay I whipped out the camera, and it came at the perfect time. Point Bonita has a lighthouse that we went to, but the area had way more birds.

The first view offered Harbor Seals with the Golden Gate Bridge in the backdrop. Stunning. California and Western Gulls were flying all over the place. I met some birders there with a scope who got me on Surf Scoter, although it was too distant of a shot, and Iceland Gull! That's a great thing about fellow birders, they'll always try and help you out, and no question is a dumb question. They gave me some insight of some Great guys, and I hope they make their way to Texas soon.

Harbor Seals at Point Bonita

A flash of blue came across the sky as we wrapped up our trip, 3 Western Bluebirds! I snapped a pretty bad pic of one of them, but it was an extremely satisfying find.

Western Bluebird

The downhill walk to the car was extremely refreshing, and the call of Acorn Woodpeckers in the trees got me well behind the group as I looked up for them with no luck. The birding gods had one more gift for me: a very cooperative California Scrub Jay, the best bird of the day. This is a California specialty that I was really hoping to find and photograph. California Scrub Jay used to be a subspecies of Western Scrub Jay, a bird that ranged all over the American Southwest, until a split in 2016. Now you can find the Woodhouse's Scrub Jay from West Texas to Arizona/Nevada and the California Scrub Jay in California. And I know you're wondering, yes, I do have a scheme in the works to get Woodhouse's Scrub Jay.

Bird of the day: California Scrub Jay

These first two days in San Francisco were incredible. Great birds and great views. I decided to make this a 2 part because day 3 and 4 were such big birding days. If I could go back to Marin I would recommend Point Reyes, as I have heard it is even better for birds. Avoid Muir Woods, though, if you're birding. The tannin on the bark is very insect resistant, so you have little bird life there, and the birds that are there you can and will see elsewhere.

Marin Headlands from Point Bonita. I'm sure if you zoom in you can see the raft of Surf Scoters below the rocks

A Hot Start to Migration

I was itching to finally get out, even if cloudy weather was imminent. Unfortunately it started to rain, with a shower blowing through. I bolted to the nature center with my camera under my shirt, cursing the birding gods for the rain. Thunder clapped in the East and I almost packed it. The wind started blowing East and the shower was over after a few minutes, and after a pause I decided it was worth the risk.

Migration is in its early stages. Purple Martins have been seen at Country Club Lake, so pretty soon Spring birds will be coming in. One early migrant not on my year list is the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and in the coming days they will most likely be gone. Hoping to see one, I set out down Iron Bridge as Yellow-rumped Warblers and Carolina Chickadees hopped in front of me.

Carolina Chickadee from and earlier trip to LCP

Birds that looked like they had a mask on them were hopping around the treetops at a distance. They looked very similar to Golden-crowned Kinglets, a really solid find for Lick Creek Park, but unfortunately the lighting was awful and I couldn't get a good look at them. 

As the storm moved past I saw some movement in the trees, clearly a woodpecker of some sort. I got some glass on the bird and I could feel my face light up. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! Huzzah! I normally don't see these birds after the first week of March. I love these birds because I thought Sapsuckers were foreign to Texas when I started birding, and it was only on the Yaupon Loop that I realized you can actually find them here. Every sapsucker reminds me of Lick Creek Park now when I see it.

A very out of focus YB Sapsucker

The light did not stay bad as I rounded Raccoon Run, and the light brought out the birds. Carolina Wrens, Northern Cardinals, and American Robins were calling up and down the trail with the occasional Tufted Titmouse thrown in there. White-throated Sparrows were hopping around and the buzzy trill of a Northern Parula could be heard in the- wait, Norther Parula? They're early migrants as well, and that trill reminds me of Spring whenever I hear it. I have never heard one before March, which I guess I was one day short of March, but that is the first nesting warbler in College Station!

Northern Parula taken at Estero Llano Grande State Park in December

Walking with some pep in my step I got closer to Lick Creek. I was THRILLED. The sun was out and I had just heard a warbler. I thought this day couldn't get better. Then it did. Parula's are impossible to see. They hang out in the highest levels of trees, which means in the woods you won't see them. It's just too thick up there. One relatively isolated tree had a bird flying around with an ascending trill call, this had to be it. The birding gods smiled on me, it was a Northern Parula! I would hear 3 more the rest of the day.

Another elusive bird, the Pileated Woodpecker had been calling as well. I've only ever seen glimpses of them. As soon as they see a person they're gone. Their loud laugh taunts many a birders who want to see them. As I lowered my binoculars I saw a large mass fly into a tree on the trail. Hidden from view I got incredible looks. This bird is magnificent. I always want new birders to see one because they'll have their minds blown. Pileated Woodpeckers and Northern Parulas...wow.

Pileated Woodpecker shot taken by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Isn't it stunning?

But the day was not done. It was now 80 degrees and 11:30. I started towards Deer Run, hungry and sweaty. A booming who-cooks-for-you call thundered through the forest. Barred Owl! A bird that eluded me all though 2017 was present! I sat listening in awe as it called out, only to go quiet for a few minutes. I had never heard one call before. The call rang out again this time at a distance. Dang. I was really hoping to see it, but it moved on. Not so fast! The first owl resumed calling, and through the trees I could see a massive set of wings fly toward the second owl. WOW. 

I didn't see much on my way out but I didn't care, I was hot and tired after being on the trail for almost 3 hours and that hike was one of the best trips to LCP I've ever had. I zipped around Carter Lake on my way back to the house and the only species of note was Purple Martin.

Spring is back and the birding is bountiful! Up to 83 on the year. I'll be back out at Lick Creek for Birding 101 with the Audubon Society on Saturday morning!